Hilltop News
from the Greater Hilltop CDC

GHCDC 2001 News

The Year 2000 In ReviewThe year 2000 was not only the beginning of the
new Millennium, but also a great year for the Greater Hilltop Community
Development Corporation. Listed are some of the projects that the GHCDC
was involved with this past year.

CDC Builds Hilltop House

The "Hilltop House" at 99 Belvidere was
built and sold this year. A model design for infill housing, it was
designed to complement the surrounding housing stock. By providing new
housing in a traditional neighborhoods, infill houses offer alternatives
to suburban sprawl. They also help to stabilize and increase housing
values in the neighborhoods where they are constructed. A second
"Hilltop House" is being planned.

Hilltop Senior Village

Ground was broken and construction started on the
Hilltop Senior Village, a brand new senior housing community on Wilson
Road. The GHCDC has worked in conjunction with many local churches and
organization and National Church Residences to see that this project
would happen. Units will be available for rent in Spring, 2001.

West Broad Street part of historic byway

The GHCDC was instrumental in working with the
City of Columbus to obtain over $9,000 to help with a matching T-21
Grant to fund an Ohio Historical Society project to designate the
National Road, Broad Street, as a National Scenic Byway. Hopefully, this
designation will be in place for 2003, Ohio's Bicentennial. National
Scenic Byway status could generate greater visitor activity for Columbus
and the Hilltop and create economic development opportunities.

National Road Plaza Project

Together with 9 community groups, the GHCDC formed
a consortium that was successful in obtaining a Columbus Foundation
Neighborhood Partnership Program Grant to begin the first phase for the
National Road Plaza, to be located between the old and new Fire Stations
on West Broad Street. The Plaza project will help to document several
important aspects of the Hilltop's history and provide a public outdoor
space for community activities. The goal is to complete the project for
2003.

Community Chat & Bulletin Board,

Join the
community discussion, let your concerns be heard follow this link to Neignborhoodlink.com
where you will find a community live chat area as well as a bulletin
board where you can post your community concerns and read of others.
When you enter the site it will ask you for a zip code or you can simply
click on the state of Ohio and then on to Columbus. The listing
for Columbus West side community groups included the Area Commission and
Valleyview.

Farmers Market on the Hilltop

A brand new Farmers Market came to the State
office Complex on the Hilltop in August, and became an instant success.
Fresh, Ohio-grown produce, vegetables and flowers were sold from stands
set up in the complex parking lot each Thursday. Marketmasters Frank and
Marcy Musson, of the Pearl Alley Growers' Association were extremely
pleased by the amount of businesses the market generated and the
community support they received. The market will reopen in July of 2001.

Sullivant Trail Progress

This walking and biking trail has been planned for
several years since the demolition of the Former Central Ohio
Psychiatric Hospital. Late this autumn construction was begun by the
City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department on the first leg of the
trail that will begin in Glenview Park on North Eureka Avenue, wind its
way along Dry Run Creek past the Centennial Stone then link up with the
walking trail of the State Office Complex which begins at the retention
basin and continues to Rhodes Park. Plans are to extend the trail across
West Broad Street to Glenwood, Hauntz and Burroughs Parks.

"WOMEN OF CHARACTER"

10th Anniversary : The year 2000 was the 10th
Anniversary of the "Women of Character"
Awards program that the GHCDC co-sponsors with the WestSide Messenger
newspaper. Over these past ten years, scores of women have been
nominated by the community and 33 have been selected for their
outstanding contributions to their families, churches and the community.

CDC Offices Host Environmental Court

For the first time ever, Judge Richard Pfeiffer
held the Environmental Court in a neighborhood location in response to
the code citation resulting from the Neighborhood Pride Project
activities in the Hilltop. The day-long court session at the GHCDC was
declared a success in reaching agreements to correct code violations.
The community location, without the time and parking problems involved
in going downtown created a less stressful, more cooperative and
productive environment for the proceedings.

Senior Housing Under Cover

At long last, the first phase of the Hilltop Senior Village is
sprouting out of the former corn field on Wilson Road. This first phase
will consist of 50 single story cottages and 50 apartments units within
a three story, mid-rise building. After the extended period necessary
for underground utilities and foundations, the speed at which the
framing has taken place seems almost magical. And just as the cold
weather has begun to set in, the buildings are under cover and work can
begin on the building interiors.

With an opening date projected for the early part of summer of 2001, the
eleven year effort to develop Senior Housing in the Hilltop will finally
be reaching its goal. And none to soon. The "interest list"
for the new facility contains over 500 names of individuals who have
expressed interest and requested information about the development.
After the first of the year application information will be sent out to
all individuals on the list, and the formal application process will
begin within the following weeks. Anyone interest in having a name
placed on the "interest list" should contact Van Ambrose at
National Church Residences 451-2151.

Senior
Center Nears Goal

In addition to creating housing, the Hilltop
Senior Housing Committee wants to create a new community center for
senior activities to be located in the village. The 3,000 square
foot, free standing facility will provide programs and services for
seniors throughout the community. With a goal of $300,000 the
committee has already raised $233,333, primarily through grants from
private groups and foundations. It is now seeking donations from
individuals and businesses in the community to make the project a
reality. Donations for the community center can be sent to the
Hilltop Senior Village Community Center Fund at National Church
Residences, 2335 North Bank Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43220.